Horseman Jim Raymer, known for his knowledge and success with trotters, died Wednesday (July 8) at the age of 62 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Originally from Markham, Ont. and a self-proclaimed "city boy", Raymer started out in harness racing with a group friends, a case of beer and an idea to have good time.
"There were five of us; I think we all put in $500, apiece," said Raymer told Harness Racing Communications in a 2003 interview. "It was a big adventure. We just wanted to see what we could do with it....We figured if nothing else we’d at least have some fun. We bought a Quick Pick yearling. She made it to the races.
“The next one we got was a $2,000 claimer that made $24,000. You just stand up to the plate, take your swings, and see what happens."
Over the course of his career Raymer took his share of swings and hit his fair share of home runs. He developed and trained many stakes-winning trotters, the richest being Green Day, a $1.3 million winner who captured the 2007 Yonkers Trot and finished third (to 2007 Horse of the Year Donato Hanover) in the Kentucky Futurity final.
"When I bought him, I didn't believe he'd be this good," said Raymer, who paid just $6,000 for Green Day from the 2006 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale as the only bidder on the horse. "If I knew it, other people would have known it too."
He also developed and campaigned the likes of Deanna Troy, Tasha Yar, Scully FBI, Keystone Activator, Nirvana Blue Chip, Freeze Frame, and in 2014, Harley Momma and Wouldntitbesweet.
Jim is survived by his wife Terry; son Tyler (Leigh), who trains horses in partnership with wife Leigh; daughter Amy (Trevor); step-sons AJ Fort and Christopher Fort; and grandsons Zack, Gavin, Rory.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held stateside on Thursday, July 16, at Mahoning Valley Country Club, 323 Country Club Rd., Lehighton, PA 18235; service at noon with lunch to follow. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in Canada at a later date.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Jim Raymer.
(with files from harnessracing.com and HRC)
Jim was my trainer when I
Jim was my trainer when I first go into the business as an owner back in the 80's. Although we didn't speak a whole lot he was a soft spoken man and he struck me as being genuine. While I didn't make piles of money as an owner I didn't lose a whole lot either but I also had a lot of fun along the way. One special night Jim gave me was when our horse, Subtle Ways (we owned together with Jim) won on my birthday with Jim doing the driving and paid a whopping $46 to win. On occasion I still find myself looking at the winners picture hanging proudly on my wall.
However, today is not necessarily about horses it is about Jim Raymer the man. I beileive he was a good man and I send my condolences along to Tyler and the rest of Jim's family.
Jim, thank you for the memories and the fun ride. I will say a prayer for you today that your immortal soul may be resting comfortably in the hands of our Good Lord Jesus Christ.
May perpetual light shine upon you. May you rest in peace.
My family has known Jim a
My family has known Jim a long time. If anyone was strong enough to beat cancer I thought it would be him. Jim and his first wife Mary left careers to try the horses. They did all the work themselves and Jim even shod his own horses. They were successful and Jim and his new wife Terry and son and daughter-in-law Tyler and Leigh run large training and racing stables. Like Frank Sinatra, "Jim did it his way" and boy did it work. You are gone way too soon, but "R.I.P. my friend, the suffering is over".